Piling.



J. J. WALTHER.

' 'PILING- APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1908.

Patented Nov. 17', 1908.

" gUNITED srarns PATENT orrios.

JACOB .THON WALTHER, OF BOONVILLE, MISSOURI.

-l li PILING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

Application filed January 20', 1908. Serial No. 411,781.

To all wliom fit may concern.'

Be it known that I, Jason J. VVAurHEn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boonville, in the county of Cooper and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Filing, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to piles and walls formed thereby for protecting the banks of rivers from the erosive action of the water, and has for its objects to provide an improved pile that may be. readily sunk into position, will sink further in a predetermined direction when undermined, and will not displace sidewise while sinking. These objects I accomplish in the manner and by the means hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to thc accompanyingr drawing, in which:-

Figure l is a sectional view of one bank of a river showing my improved piling in position. Fig. 2 .is a similar view showing the bank washed away, and the piling in the acft of sliding to a lower level. Fig. 3 is a view similar to F ig. l illustratingr a slightly modified use of the invention. Fig. 4 is an. enlarged detail elevation of the lower end of one ofmy ,improved piles. Fig. 5 1s a sectional view on the line 5-5, Fig. i.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. l, showing still another use of the invention.

f Like letters of reference in the several figures indicate thesame parts.

The piles are preferably formed of reinforced concrete, though they may be made of .metal or other suitable substance, and consist each of a body ortion l, rectangular in cross section and a -shaped rib 2 formed integral therewith, and centrally disposed longitudinally on said pile. The body lortion l at its lower end is formed at a rlght angle to its length for about one half of its width, as shown at 3merging into'the angular surface 4 at an angle of about 45 degrees thereto, which in turn merges into a less abrupt angular surface 5 formed on the lower end of the rib 2. Extending longitudinally through said pile are one or more through apertures 6, the same being for the purpose of introdi'xcing hydraulic pressure therethrough, for the purpose. of sinking the piles.

As shown in Fig. l, a series of said piles are sunk side by side to form a protecting wall said piles penetrating the ground at the edge of the stream. l/Vhile being sunk, whether by external or internal hydraulic pressure, the V-shaped rib 2 will bite into the bank and will cause said pile to descend in a straight line. Now, when in the course of time the action of the stream washes away the bank in front of said piles, as shown in' Fig. 2, the piles will remain in position, until the lower flat ends 3 thereof are uncovered, whereupon the angular' surfaces 4 thereof will permit said piles to slide forward and downward, this action being checked. somewhat by the angular surfaces 5.

The said. sliding action will continue until Y the surfaces 5 lie substantially parallel with the river bed, thus tilting the piles to an angle of about 60 degrees, in which position they will remain and will effectually protect the bank from further erosion.

In Fig. l I have shown the piles laid against the bank with their lower ends above the water level, in which position they will remain until the bank beneath them is eaten away by the stream, whereupon they will slide down in a substantially vertical line and gradually assume the position shown in dotted lilies Fig. 2.

The ribs 2 perform the twofold function of aiding materially in driving the piling straight, and in preventing subsequent tipping or tilting to either side even under a downward sliding movement.

It will be apparent that while said piles may be driven by external hydraulic pressure, the provision of the longitudinal apertures G for the passage of said pressure will permit of a straight driving thereof and with less pressure.

By reason of the ribs 2- I am enabied to drive a series of piles side by side to form a protecting wall, and yet dispense with any t ing together of said piles, so that each one thereof will be permitted an independent vertical movement and yet will be prevented by said ribs from any sidewise movement.

piles l laid flat upon the river bank, and in dotted lines the osition that will be assumed by said piles 4siould the river wash away said bank. Thus, as the bank is radually,l washed away the piles will of t ieir own weight gradually tip to the inclined position shown in dotted lines. thus protecting the bank against further erosion.

Having thus described my invention, what secure by Letright angle to its length'fora portion of itsA Width, at an abrupt angle thereto for a portion of the rest of its width, and at a less abrupt angle for the remainder of its Width.

2. A pile, embodying a body portion having a flat unbroken front side and a flat rear side, and a V-shaped rib formed centrally on said fiat rear side and extending longitudinally of said body portion.

3. A pile, embodying a body portion and a rib extending longitudinally of said body portion, and connected thereto, said body portion having its lower end formed at a right angle to its length for a portion of its Width and at a different angle thereto for the rest of its Width and said rib having its lower end formed at a diierent and intermediate angle to those of said body portion.

4. The method of protecting banks, which consists in disposing a series of piles side by side upon said bank independent of each other and partially embedded therein throughout their length, so that as said bank is Washed away said piles will automatically assume a position to protect said bank be- 10W the level of the Water and thus prevent further erosion of said bank.\

ln testimony whereof I aix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

F. W. MICHELS, E. J. GABTHOFFNER. 

